Next-Gen Pneumococcal Vaccine Race Continues With Merck’s V114 Data

Merck’s V114 protected against all 15 targeted serotypes in the first two of 16 Phase III studies, but market leader Pfizer’s 20-valent Prevnar 13 successor is on track for a US FDA filing in late 2020.

Evening scene asphalt international race track with starting or end line, digital imaging recomposition background. — Merck is in a race against Pfizer to file a new pneumococcal vaccine

Merck & Co. Inc. and Pfizer Inc. both have next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines that they are in discussions about filing with regulators and now both companies have reported initial Phase III results for their programs. Merck said on 22 June that its candidate V114 was effective against all 15 pneumococcal serotypes that it was designed to address – two more than in Pfizer’s blockbuster Prevnar 13 – in adults with HIV and older adults who also received a flu vaccine.

Merck is conducting 16 Phase III clinical trials of V114, including two pivotal trials enrolling adults aged 50 and older...